Colleague: Doctor killed at Hoag office in Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH – A doctor was shot and killed Monday in his office at Hoag Health Center in Newport Beach, a colleague said.

Ronald Franklin Gilbert, a physician at Hoag-affiliated Orange Coast Urology, was shot in his office, said Jeffrey Lauber. Lauber had referred a patient to Gilbert who was scheduled for surgery Monday.

"I had to call the patient to say the doctor was shot," Lauber said. "You're killing people who are healing people. What's next?"

Police have not confirmed the identity of a man suspected in the shooting or of the victim because of the pending investigation.

Authorities said that six or seven shots were fired around 2:45 p.m. at 520 Superior Ave. in Newport Beach, where Gilbert's office is listed.

When officers arrived about 2:50 p.m., they found a man shot in the chest in an examination room, said Kathy Lowe, a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Police Department. No one else was injured or targeted, Lowe said.

A man was arrested on suspicion of homicide at the scene without incident, officials said.

"Everything is safe, and there are no outstanding suspects," police Sgt. Kirk Jacobi said.

Police were investigating on the second floor of the building; Gilbert's office is in Suite 240.

Kristen Cotty, an office supervisor in the nephrology laboratory on the third floor of the building, said she thought the gunshots she heard were construction noises.

"What's going on with the world today?" Cotty asked. "I mean, schools, now I got to worry about going to work. This has got to stop."

John Homan is a sports medicine physician who works on the floor where the shooting occurred.

"Random violence, what the hell are you going to do?" Homan said. "All I can tell you is it's ... horrible."

Gilbert graduated from the UCI College of Medicine in 1987 and has been a practicing physician and surgeon since 1989, the California Medical Board website shows.

Gilbert's medical board records show no disciplinary actions, malpractice judgments or settlements while he was a physician.

Orange Coast Urology's website, which lists Gilbert as a team member, says the group specializes in treatment of disorders of the urinary tract and genital conditions. The group is affiliated with Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, the site says.

The website also says Gilbert was married and had two children.

Gerry Crews, who has known Gilbert since he played with his brother in a band in high school, said that Gilbert had many friends and was loved by everyone.

"One of the most caring, giving, generous people I knew," Crews said. "I doubt you would find anyone who would say anything bad about him."

Emma Trepinski, Gilbert's neighbor, said his family kept to themselves in the neighborhood and were very religious and tight-knit.

"Sometimes when we would go by (the house), you could hear the music, and you'd know they were all together," Trepinski said.